Apparatus for drawing blood



United States Patent John Y. S. Chan 10065 Elm Ave., Loma Linda, California [72] Inventor 92354 [2]] Appl. No. 651,852 [22] Filed July 7, 1967 [45] Patented Sept. 15, 1970 [54] APPARATUS FOR DRAWING BLOOD 6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

3,405,706 10/1968 Cinqualbre 128/2 FOREIGN PATENTS 536,438 5/1941 GreatBritain 128/276 Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp Attorney-Shoemaker and Mattare ABSTRACT: A support means is provided for slidably supporting a vacuum container. A cannula includes inner and outer piercing ends and an intermediate portion which is supported on a part of the support means to hold the cannula in place. The cannula is adapted to be forced through the stopper means of the vacuum container when a poweroperated means mounted on the support means forces the vacuum container toward the cannula. The power-operated means is mounted on a part of the support means which is I I pivoted with respect to the remainder thereof. A resilient sealing means is disposed in surrounding relationship to the inner piercing end of the cannula and is slidable with respect thereto. A spring is disposed between the sealing means and one end of the support means for urging the sealing means and a vacuum container engaged therewith toward the poweroperated means to remove the inner piercing end of the cannula from the vacuum container.

Patented Sept. 15, 1910 3,528,404

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 15, 1970 I Sheet mvsmozz /brz ara 'L/ZLNLAWA mm ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR DRAWING BLOOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for drawing blood from a patient and is adapted for use particularly in those instances where a number of samples of blood are to be drawn from one patient. In this situation, the effect of connecting and disconnecting a plurality of vacuum containers in succession to the cannula may be painful. The apparatus of the present invention is designed to enable this operation to be carried out with a minimum of discomfort, and in a minimum of time.

Vacuum containers are commonly used for drawing blood from a patient wherein one piercing end of a cannula is first disposed within the vein of a patient, the opposite piercing end of the cannula being adapted to be inserted through a resilient stopper provided on the vacuum container. This operation may be carried out by hand. However, when multiple tubes of blood are drawn from one patient, this type of operation is painful and messy when carried out in the known manner. The pain involved is caused by the movement generated by connecting and disconnecting successive containers with respect to the cannula.

In the prior art, there has been no provision for means for automatically removing the cannula from the vacuum container. Additionally, when the container is removed from operative relationship with a cannula, blood can run out of the open end of the cannula which is of course undesirable.

Additionally, when it is desired to obtain a plurality of samples of blood in different containers, the containers usually are not readily accessible and it is a time consuming operation to remove one container and then position a fresh container in operative relationship with respect to the cannula.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a support means which is adapted to slidably support a vacuum container, and the container is moved into operative position with respect to the cannula by power-operated means. Further means are provided for automatically moving the container away from the cannula so as to remove the piercing end of the cannula from the vacuum container. This results in the least discomfort to the patient since the cannula can remain in a substantially fixed relationship throughout the aforementioned operation.

The apparatus of the present invention also provides sealing means for automatically sealing the inner piercing end of the cannula when the vacuum container is removed from operative relationship with respect thereto. This prevents blood from running out of the cannula and at the same time permits a new container to be readily operatively connected with the inner piercing end of the cannula.

In a modified form of the invention, a magazine means is provided which is adapted to hold a plurality of containers therewithin, and by simply rotating the magazine means, a fresh container may be readily brought into operative position within the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel apparatus for drawing blood which results in the least discomfort to the patient, and which further includes means for automatically removing the inner piercing end of the cannula from the associated vacuum container and which at the same time automatically seals the inner piercing end of the cannula, and means for automatically removing and positioning a filled and a fresh container, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top perspective view illustrating a first form of the invention:

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the structure shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the apparatus in a first operative position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the apparatus in a second operative position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a side view of still another form of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 11- l I of FIG. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a first form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. l--4.As seen in these figures, a support means is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and includes an annular portion 12. A pair of strap-like portions 14 and 16 extend longitudinally in parallel relationship from the annular portion 12 and are joined at the outer ends thereof by a cross piece 15. A similar pair of strap-like portions 18 and 20 are interconnected with annular portion 12 and are angularly related approximately 90 from the aforementioned strap members l4 and 16. The strap members 18 and 20 extend substantially parallel with one another and the outer ends thereof are joined by a cross piece 19. A tubular portion 22 is formed integral with the cross piece 15 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 for supporting the cannula as hereinafter described.

The cannula indicated generally by reference numeral 30 is of conventional construction and includes an outer piercing end 32 and an inner piercing end 34. The cannula also has formed thereon an integral intermediate mounting portion 36 which as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 has screw threads thereon which can be positioned by rotation into the threaded inner surface of the portion 22 of the support means which is adapted to hold the cannula firmly in place so that the cannula is not displaced during movement of the vacuum container associated with the apparatus into and out of operative relationship with respect to the inner piercing end of the cannula.

Again referring to FIG. 1, a pair of parallel members 40 and 42 extend from the opposite side of annular portion I2. The support means also includes a pair of parallel members 44 and 46 which are pivotally interconnected with members 40 and 42 respectively by pivot pins 48 and 50. Members 44 and 46 serve to support a suitable power-operated means 54. This power-operated means may be of any conventional construction and may be either electrically or hydraulically operated, for example, in order to move a member 56 inwardly and outwardly with respect thereto, member 56 having a vacuum container engaging p rtion 58 secured to the outer end thereof; Member 58 is provided with a recess 60 therein of arcuate cross-sectional configuration which is adapted to conform to the correspondingly curved end of a vacuum container.

A conventional vacuum container is provided including a tubular portion 70 formed of glass or the like and having a closed end portion 72 adapted to be received within the recess 60 previously described. The opposite end 74 of the container is open and is sealed by a stopper 76. The stopper is formed of a suitable resilient material such as rubber and is compressed within the open end of tubular portion 70 so as to retain a vacuum within the interior of the'tubular portion in a well known manner.

A sealing means comprises a member formed of resilient material such as rubber or the like which is readily compressible. Member 80 is disposed in surrounding relationship to the inner piercing end 34 of the cannula and is adapted to move axially with respect thereto. Member 80 includes an arcuate outer surface 82 adapted to fit snugly within a correspondingly shaped recess formed in the stopper 76.

A compression spring 86 is disposed between the portions 15 and 19 of the support means as previously described and the forward face of sealing means 80 so that the sealing means 80 and the associated vacuum container will be normally urged to the right as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 under the influence of spring 86.

When it is desired to employ the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-4 inclusive, the cannula is first mounted upon the support means, and the support portions 46 and 44 along with the power-operated means 54 are pivoted downwardly into the phantom line position shown in FIG. 2 to permit a suitable vacuum container to be slid into operative position as seen in FIG. 3. The power-operated means is then again swung back into the position shown in FIG. 3.

It will be noted as seen in FIG. 3 that the sealing means 80 is in surrounding relationship to the open end of the inner piercing end of the cannula to seal this open inner end. Upon operation of the power-operated means 54, the movable portion 58 will move to the left thereby urging the components into the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the inner piercing end of the cannula is disposed within the vacuum container so that the vacuum therein will cause blood to be drawn into the container. It will of course be understood that the outer piercing end 34 of the cannula is first inserted within the vein of a patient prior to moving the vacuum container into operative position as shown in FIG. 2.

The power-operated means may then be operated so that the movable portion 58 thereof may move to the right, whereupon under the influence of spring 86, the components will be urged to the right back into the operative position shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the open end of the inner piercing end 34 of the cannula is sealed by sealing means 80, and the cannula has been withdrawn from the stopper 76.

The power-operated means along with support portions 44 and 46 can then be again pivoted downwardly so as to remove the vacuum container and to insert a new vacuum container in place.

It should be noted that the interconnection between the parts 22 and 36 which holds the cannula in place is sufficiently firm so that when the vacuum container is moved from the position shown in FIG. 3 to that shown in FIG. 2, the cannula will not be urged to the left so as to be driven further into the patient. However, the cannula can be removed manually when so desired.

Referring now to FIGS. -8 inclusive, a modified form of the invention is illustrated. In this form of the invention, the support means is indicated generally by reference numeral 90 and includes a cradle 92 of generally semi-circular cross-sectional configuration which is open at the top so that a vacuum container may be lowered thereinto. A tubular portion 94 is disposed at one end of cradle means 92, and a power-operated means 96 is supported at the opposite end thereof, the power-- operated means being similar to that previously described.

A movable member 98 is operatively connected with the power-operated means for movement in a longitudinal direction toward and away from the opposite end of the support means. Member 98 has a curved recess 100 formed therein as seen in FIG. 7 which is adapted to receive a correspondingly threaded end of a vacuum container similar to that previously described.

A vacuum container 104 is provided, this vacuum container also having a resilient stopper 106 supported within the open end thereof so as to maintain a vacuum within the container.

A cannula indicated generally be reference numeral 108 is similar to that previously described and includes an intermediate mounting portion 1 mounted upon a suitable tubular means similar to the means 22 previously described, this tubular means being formed integral with an end wall 112 formed on tubular portion 94 previously described.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 7, a sealing means is provided in the form of a resilient member 120 which corresponds to the resilient member 80 previously described. This resilient member is adapted to be disposed in surrounding relationship to the inner piercing end of the cannula and is movable axially with respect thereto.

The means for automatically removing the vacuum container from the cannula in this form of the invention includes a pair of elongated strap-like members 122 and 124 as seen most clearly in FIG. 6 which extend from the movable member 98 of the power-actuated means and which are connected therewith. The outer ends of members 122 and 124 are connected by a cross member 126. This cross member 126 as seen in FIG. 7 engages the left-hand face of the sealing member 120.

When employing the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5-8 inclusive, a vacuum container is first moved downwardly into the cradle support portion and moved into the position shown in FIG. 7. The power-operated means is then energized to move the components to the left so that the inner piercing end of the cannula will enter through the stopper 106 of the vacuum container so as to be in communication with the vacuum within the container so that blood will be drawn through the cannula.

After the blood has been drawn into the container, the power-operated means is then energized to move member 98 back into the full line position shown in the drawings. As the member 98 is moved to the right by the power-operated means, the portion 126 in engagement with sealing means will force the sealing means and the vacuum container back to the right so as to remove the inner piercing end of the cannula from the stopper of the vacuum container. The vacuum container can then of course be removed and another vacuum container inserted into operative position.

Referring now to FIG. 9-11, a still further modified form of the invention is illustrated. In this form of the invention, the support means 130 includes a cradle portion 132 of generally semi-circular cross-sectional configuration as seen in FIG. 1 1.

A cannula 134 similar to those previously described is supported in a similar manner from an end wall 136 of the support means.

A power-operated means 140 similar to that previously described is supported from the opposite end wall 142 of the support means. A movable member 144 of the poweroperated means is provided, this movable member being similar to those previously described.

A sealing member similar to the sealing member 80 of the modification shown in FIGS. 1-4 is provided in surrounding relationship to the inner piercing end of the cannula, and a compression spring 152 corresponding to spring 86 of the previously described modification is provided for urging the sealing member into sealing position and for moving the associated vacuum container to the right as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10.

A pair of pivot support members 156 and 158 have pointed end portions which fit within recesses provided within the central portions of the opposite ends of a magazine indicated generally by reference numeral 160.

The magazine includes four spaced tubular portions 162, 164, 166 and 168 as seen most clearly in FIG. 11, these tubular portions being disposed substantially parallel with one another and each being adapted to slidably receive an associated vacuum container. The four containers disposed within these tubular portions are indicated by reference nu merals 162', 164', 166' and 168 respectively.

It is apparent that the magazine may be rotated either manually or automatically about the axes of pivot support members 156 and 158 so as to successively align different ones of the vacuum containers with the power-operated movable member 144.

Accordingly, the magazine as shown in FIG. 1 1 is in position to enable the vacuum container 166' to be urged by the power-operated means so as to engage the inner piercing end of the cannula with the vacuum container so as to draw blood spring 152 to urge the components to the right as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 whereby the vacuum container 166' will again be urged back within associcated tubular portion 166.

Magazine 160 can then be rotated so as to bring another one of the vacuum containers into position so as to be moved by the power-operated means into operative relationship with respect to the cannula.

The magazine 160 with its content can be easily removed from or positioned into the support means.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention new and novel apparatus for drawing blood which reduces the discomfort of the patient to a minimum. The apparatus includes means for automatically removing the cannula from operative relationship with respect to an associated vacuum container, and furthermore the apparatus includes means for automatically sealing the inner piercing end of the cannula when it is not operatively associated with the vacuum container. In a modified form of the invention, a magazine is provided for moving successive vacuum containers quickly and easily into operative position.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for drawing blood comprising a longitudinally extending support means for movably supporting a vacuum container throughout substantially the entire length of the container, cannula holding means on said support means, a cannula supported in said cannula holding means in coaxial 4 container to move the vacuum container in a first direction to cause the inner piercing end of the cannula to enter into a vacuum container supported by the support means, and automatic removal means mounted on the support means and adapted to urge a vacuum container movably supported on the support means in a direction opposite to said first-mentioned direction so as to remove the inner piercing end of the cannula from a vacuum container.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced parallel members defining a cylindrical cage means for surrounding and supporting a vacuum container therein.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said cannula holding means comprises inturned ends on each of said longitudinally extending members which inturned ends come to a common joint which has a bore therethrough disposed coaxially of said cage means for supporting the cannula.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said automatic removal means includes a member connected with the movable member of said power-operated means for movement therewith.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a portion which supports said power-operated means and which is pivoted with respect to the remaining portion of the support means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including magazine means rotatably mounted upon said support means, said magazine means including a plurality of spaces disposed in substantially parallel relationship with one another each of which is adapted to slidably receive a vacuum container. 

